2 Kings 3:16
2 Kings 3:16 in Multiple Translations
and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’
And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, Make this valley full of trenches.
And he said, The Lord says, I will make this valley full of water-holes.
and he announced, “This is what the Lord says: This valley will be filled with pools of water. For the Lord says:
And he saide, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.
and he saith, 'Thus said Jehovah, Make this valley ditches — ditches;
He said, “The LORD says, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’
And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
Thus saith the Lord: Make the channel of this torrent full of ditches.
He said, “Yahweh says that he will cause this dry stream-bed to be full of water.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Kings 3:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Kings 3:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֹּ֕אמֶר
כֹּ֖ה
אָמַ֣ר
יְהוָ֑ה
עָשֹׂ֛ה
הַ/נַּ֥חַל
הַ/זֶּ֖ה
גֵּבִ֥ים
גֵּבִֽים
וַ/יֹּ֕אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
כֹּ֖ה
kôh
H3541
thus
Adv
אָמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
עָשֹׂ֛ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal-Ptc
הַ/נַּ֥חַל
nachal
H5158
Brook
Art | N-ms
הַ/זֶּ֖ה
zeh
H2088
this
Art | Pron
גֵּבִ֥ים
gêb
H1356
cistern
N-mp
גֵּבִֽים
gêb
H1356
cistern
N-mp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Kings 3:16
וַ/יֹּ֕אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
כֹּ֖ה
kôh
H3541
"thus"
Adv
This Hebrew word means thus or in this manner. It can also indicate a location or time, such as here or now. The KJV translates it in various ways, including also, here, and so.
Definition: 1) thus, here, in this manner 1a) thus, so 1b) here, here and there 1c) until now, until now...until then, meanwhile Aramaic equivalent: kah (כָּה "thus" H3542)
Usage: Occurs in 541 OT verses. KJV: also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder. See also: Genesis 15:5; 1 Kings 22:20; Isaiah 7:7.
אָמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
יְהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
עָשֹׂ֛ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal-Ptc
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
הַ/נַּ֥חַל
nachal
H5158
"Brook"
Art | N-ms
The Hebrew word for a brook or stream, often referring to a small river or valley, is used in the Bible to describe natural landscapes, such as the Brook Kidron in 2 Samuel 15:23. It can also refer to a narrow valley or a shaft of a mine, emphasizing the idea of a flowing body of water.
Definition: palm-tree Another name of shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Shihor" H7883G)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: brook, flood, river, stream, valley. See also: Genesis 26:17; 1 Kings 18:5; Psalms 18:5.
הַ/זֶּ֖ה
zeh
H2088
"this"
Art | Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Definition: 1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such 1a) (alone) 1a1) this one 1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another 1b) (appos to subst) 1b1) this 1c) (as predicate) 1c1) this, such 1d) (enclitically) 1d1) then 1d2) who, whom 1d3) how now, what now 1d4) what now 1d5) wherefore now 1d6) behold here 1d7) just now 1d8) now, now already 1e) (poetry) 1e1) wherein, which, those who 1f) (with prefixes) 1f1) in this (place) here, then 1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter 1f3) thus and thus 1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus 1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side 1f6) on this account 1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Usage: Occurs in 1061 OT verses. KJV: he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare H2063 (זֹאת), H2090 (זֹה), H2097 (זוֹ), H2098 (זוּ). See also: Genesis 5:1; Exodus 10:17; Numbers 14:16.
גֵּבִ֥ים
gêb
H1356
"cistern"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word refers to a beam or rafter, like a log cut from a tree, and can also mean a well or cistern dug out of the ground. It appears in various contexts, including descriptions of buildings and landscapes. This term is used to describe physical structures.
Definition: pit, trench, ditch,
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: beam, ditch, pit. See also: 1 Kings 6:9; 2 Kings 3:16; Jeremiah 14:3.
גֵּבִֽים
gêb
H1356
"cistern"
N-mp
In the Bible, this word refers to a beam or rafter, like a log cut from a tree, and can also mean a well or cistern dug out of the ground. It appears in various contexts, including descriptions of buildings and landscapes. This term is used to describe physical structures.
Definition: pit, trench, ditch,
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: beam, ditch, pit. See also: 1 Kings 6:9; 2 Kings 3:16; Jeremiah 14:3.
Study Notes — 2 Kings 3:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Kings 3:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 3:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 3:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 3:16
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 3:16
- Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
- Sermons on 2 Kings 3:16
Context — Moab’s Rebellion
14Then Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not for my regard for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or acknowledge you.
15But now, bring me a harpist. ” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha
16and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’
17For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ 18This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 2:16–18 | The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Reuben is 151,450; they shall set out second. In the middle of the camps, the Tent of Meeting is to travel with the camp of the Levites. They are to set out in the order they encamped, each in his own place under his standard. On the west side, the divisions of Ephraim are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud, |
| 2 | 2 Kings 4:3 | “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow jars, even empty ones, from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. |
2 Kings 3:16 Summary
[This verse is about God giving instructions to Elisha to have the people dig ditches in a valley, which seems like a strange task, but it's a test of their faith and obedience. God promises to fill the ditches with water, even though there is no rain or wind, as a way of providing for His people. This reminds us of other times in the Bible where God provided for His people in unexpected ways, like in Exodus 17:1-7. We can learn from this verse to trust God's instructions, even when they don't make sense to us, and to have faith that He will provide for us, as seen in Psalm 37:3-7.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the LORD instruct Elisha to have the people dig ditches in the valley?
The LORD instructed Elisha to have the people dig ditches in the valley as a symbol of faith and obedience, trusting that He would provide water to fill them, as seen in 2 Kings 3:17, where it says the valley will be filled with water without wind or rain.
What is the significance of the harpist playing before Elisha received the word from the LORD?
The playing of the harpist was a way to prepare Elisha's heart and mind to receive the word from the LORD, much like how music is used in worship today to prepare our hearts to receive from God, as seen in Psalm 100:1-5, where we are instructed to come before Him with singing and music.
Is this verse related to any other events or promises in the Bible?
Yes, this event is reminiscent of other times in the Bible where God provided for His people in the wilderness, such as in Exodus 17:1-7, where God provided water from a rock, and is a testament to His faithfulness and provision for those who trust in Him.
What can we learn from Elisha's obedience to the LORD's instruction in this verse?
We can learn the importance of trusting and obeying God's instructions, even when they don't make sense to us, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6, where we are instructed to trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God's provision and obedience, even when it doesn't make sense to me?
- How can I apply the principle of faith and obedience seen in this verse to my own life and circumstances?
- What are some ways I can prepare my heart and mind to receive from God, like Elisha did with the harpist?
- How does this verse relate to my own experiences of God's faithfulness and provision in my life?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Kings 3:16
And he said, thus saith the Lord, make this valley full of ditches. In which the allied army lay encamped, that they might be ready to receive large quantities of water, sufficient for the whole army and cattle, when it came.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Kings 3:16
And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
Which may receive the water, and hold it for the use of men and beasts.
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
2 Kings 3:16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.Ver. 16. Make this valley full of ditches,] Heb., Ditches, ditches, sc., to receive the water which shall fall by a miracle. Thus God for the most part, saith Mr Diodate here, first prepareth the vessels which are to receive his grace, which is never limited nor hindered but only by man’ s incapacity.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
(16) Make.—Right (infinitive, equivalent to an energetic imperative). Valley.—Nahal, wady, torrent-bed, gully. According to Thenius, “the brook Zered” of Deuteronomy 2:13 is meant; the present Wady el-Ahsy, (or el-Hasa) which forms the natural southern boundary of Moab, and from which several gorges lead up into the Moabite highlands. (See Isaiah 15:7.) Full of ditches.—Literally, pits, pits. (Comp. Genesis 14:10 : “Wells, wells of bitumen.”) The pits were to gather the water, which otherwise would soon have run away in the bed of the torrent (Jeremiah 14:3-4). The style of the oracle is stamped with the liveliness and originality of historic truth.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
Verse 16. Make this valley full of ditches.] The word נחל nachal may be translated brook, as it is by the Vulgate and Septuagint. There probably was a river here, but it was now dry; and the prophet desires that they would enlarge the channel, and cut out various canals from it, and reservoirs, where water might be collected for the refreshment of the army and of the cattle; and these were to be made so wide that the reflection of the sun's rays from this water might be the means of confounding and destroying the Moabites.
Cambridge Bible on 2 Kings 3:16
16. Make this valley full of ditches] R.V. trenches. The valley was a torrent bed which in the time of rain would become suddenly flooded with the water from the steep sides, and from the watershed above. This would soon run away, and the excavations mentioned here seem to have been meant to dam up the water, and prevent its rapid escape, that so the army might be supplied for a good while if necessary.
Barnes' Notes on 2 Kings 3:16
Ditches - Or “pits” Jeremiah 14:3. They were to dig pits in the broad valley or wady, wherein the water might remain, instead of flowing off down the torrent course.
Whedon's Commentary on 2 Kings 3:16
16. Make this valley full of ditches — More literally, Make this valley pits, pits. The valley was one of the broad water courses at the southern end of the Dead Sea, and was at that time dry.
Sermons on 2 Kings 3:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
And the Country Was Filled With Water by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker uses the story of three armies lacking water to illustrate the spiritual poverty that exists in the Christian church today. He emphasizes the need for b |
|
How Deep Is Your Digging by Wesley H. Wakefield | In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about Mr. Finney and a little girl who taught him a valuable lesson about revival. The preacher emphasizes that revival is not just abou |
|
Open the Trenches by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches on the miraculous provision of water in the valley as a demonstration of God's power and faithfulness, emphasizing that nothing is impossible for God, ev |
|
The Human Means by Octavius Winslow | Octavius Winslow emphasizes the necessity of human effort in conjunction with divine blessing, illustrating that while God provides the power, we must actively engage in the means |
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The Price of Victory by George Kulp | George Kulp preaches on the story of the kings seeking victory over Moab, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands and the need to dig the ditches before expecting |
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Spiritual Insights 06 Acts 10:38 by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of allowing God to run our lives. He highlights that God is all-knowing and loving, making Him the best person to guide us. T |